Week in Review: Dec. 8, 2017

Acquisition could spur 155 new housing lots in Newton

The Newton Housing Development Corporation has reached an agreement to purchase more than 70 acres of land in northeast Newton for future subdivision development with the potential to create 155 new housing lots.

“Looking at the 2017 building permits and the planned new housing starts for 2018, I believe that all existing lots in Newton will be built out by the end of 2020,” Bruce Showalter, director of NHDC said. “Newton is in the beginning of a housing boom and we need to start planning new subdivisions now so we have buildable lots well into the future.”

Owned by Helen Barton Trust, the financial details of the land acquisition were not immediately released.

Housing development in Newton has increased rapidly in the last several years. So far in 2017, the City of Newton has issued building permits for 23 total single-family housing units, double the amount built in 2016. Since the creation of the Newton Single Family Home Construction Incentives, there have been 32 qualifying homes within city limits.

“The 23-lot subdivision that we are currently working on, Fairmeadows North Plat 8, is very popular,” Jennifer Cook, president of the NHDC Board of Directors said. “We are very excited to come to an agreement to purchase the new land adjacent to our current subdivision.”

City to inact
massage therapy regulations

To help combat the issue of illicit activities in massage therapy businesses and legitimize law abiding establishments, more stringent regulations are moving forward in Newton. The Newton City Council approved the first reading of an ordinance on Monday giving the city the authority to regulate massage therapy businesses.

Previously, businesses providing massage therapy services were governed at the state level. Due to efforts by several groups, including Newton Says No to Human Trafficking, the state law was repealed and local governments are now allowed to set the regulations.

The City of Johnston was the first to pass city code into law and was a great testing ground due to the city having two illicit massage parlors in town, Newton Police Chief Rob Burdess said.

Under the previous system, Burdess said it could take months for the state to get a case or enforcement mechanism in place. With regulations on the city’s level, the problem can be addressed almost instantly by local law enforcement.

Newton’s code is structured similarly to Johnston and the City of Windsor Heights. It requires new and existing massage therapy businesses that operate within the city of Newton to apply for licensing with the city. The application will be reviewed by the police department and city staff to ensure compliance with the ordinance. The review includes verification of the business address/location, a criminal background check of all employees listed and verification of the State of Iowa massage therapy license.

Supervisors spar over future of
annex building

After months of discussions on the future of the Jasper County Annex building, the board of supervisors approved two action items on Tuesday. The board is seeking a new contract with Shive-Hattery Engineering Firm for potential future work and requested county maintenance director Adam Sparks research quotes for air scrubbers to be used in the building.

The lease agreement for the property at 114 W. Fourth St. S., a potential temporary location for the Jasper County Health Department, was tabled to next Tuesday’s meeting.

Discussions started hot as supervisor Joe Brock continued to champion his efforts to get the board to work together on projects and ideas.

Brock said he would like to work on a location for the JCHD as a board, go and look at the location and then talk about a lease agreement. Supervisor Doug Cupples said he asked Brock for the past two weeks to look at the building, even going so far as to leave him a note, send him a text and send him an email. He said he didn’t receive a response from Brock. Brock said he did not like being told that he had to look at a building and that he didn’t want to get in a hurry to make any decisions.

Brock also asked Cupples if the board of health has been contacted about the space. Cupples said he has not gone over it with the board, only JCHD Director Becky Pryor.

Locals voice
concerns over
140-foot tower

Newton residents made their voices heard Wednesday during a public hearing on the proposed construction of a 140-foot tall Alliant Energy telecommunication tower. During the Newton Zoning Board of Adjustment meeting, locals said their main concern is the proposed location of the tower, 2600 N. Fourth Ave. E., which is by a current substation and near residential housing and Agnes Patterson Park.

Multiple residents contacted the city and attended the meeting after receiving a notice of the proposed construction by Alliant Energy. All of the feedback centered on the citizens’ concerns over the impact the tower would have on the surrounding area, specifically those who reside near the proposed site and the new housing construction planned in the adjacent Fairmeadows North development.

"The city is trying very hard to get new housing built and developed to attract new families in the immediate area," Don Perkins said. "If I don't care for having a huge tower very nearly in my own backyard I'm sure that the people who might move to Newton, build homes and raise their families in the neighborhood would probably feel the same and not move to that particular area."
Vicki Porter, who lives near the proposed site, had similar concerns about the construction of the 140-foot tower.

Bridge dedicated to fallen Prairie City police officer

When drivers cross the bridge on Highway 117 in Prairie City they will now be reminded of a dedicated police officer, family member and friend. On the 40th anniversary of officer Donald (Rusty) Hewitt’s death, two street signs were unveiled in honor of the former Prairie City officer.

The bridge that crosses over Highway 163 was filled with loved ones Sunday afternoon as well as a group of locals who put the dedication into action. James Breckenridge, Hewitt’s nephew, said he thought of the idea because he wanted to honor his uncle whom he’s never met.

Breckenridge reached out to Prairie City Police Chief Joe Bartello to figure out how to dedicate the bridge.

The DOT emailed the forms to Bartello and he took it to the city council and it passed unanimously. He said the next step was taking it to the Jasper County Board of Supervisors, which also approved it unanimously in October.

Prairie City
approves fireworks restrictions

The Prairie City City Council passed a more restrictive fireworks ordinance Nov. 29, trying to balance citizens’ rights to celebrate the holidays and their neighbors’ rights to a good night’s sleep.

The amended ordinance scales back the window residents have to shoot off fireworks in December. Residents can now use fireworks only from Dec. 20 through Jan 1 within city limits. The previous ordinance allowed the explosives from Dec. 10 through Jan. 3.

Dates for use of fireworks around Independence Day remain unchanged allowing displays June 1 through July 8.

The hours when fireworks are permitted was also reduced. Fireworks are now allowed only from 6 to 10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and from 6 to 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursdays. The ordinance allows for an exception on July 4, extending firework use to 11 p.m. and on Dec. 31 permitting their use from 6 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. The vote was 3-0.

C-M district looks at superintendent sharing with
Colo-NESCO

The Colfax-Mingo School Board discussed the potential of sharing superintendent services with Colo-NESCO CSD at Monday’s special meeting.

Superintendent Jim Verlengia said he and school board president, Mary Poulter met with Colo-NESCO leaders to discuss the potential of operational sharing. Verlengia said the district reached out to Colfax-Mingo to see if C-M was interested in sharing a superintendent.

“Tonight, you are not voting on anything. You are having an open conversation about where you think you might (be),” Verlengia said at the special meeting.

Colo-NESCO approved the resignation of their shared superintendent with Nevada CSD, Steve Gray during a meeting on Oct. 16. At the meeting, Poulter said Gray stepped away from the shared position due to personal obligations.

A Colo-NESCO official said Gray would serve out the school year, but would solely be the superintendent of Nevada CSD the 2018-19 school year.